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‘GERSHWIN 1925’

7 Star Arts invites you to an exclusive performance of George Gershwin’s Concerto in F on the centenary of its premiere in New York (3 December 1925) on Wednesday 3 December 2025.

Performed in the two-piano version by acclaimed Gershwin interpreter Viv McLean and prize-winning young pianist Tyler Hay, the concert takes place in the elegant Bӧsendorfer Hall at Coach House Pianos’ sumptuous London showroom, located in the iconic art deco Talisman Building on New King’s Road.

In addition to the Concerto in F, the programme will include the Rhapsody in Blue together with shorter works by Gershwin.

Find out more / book tickets

Following the success of his Rhapsody in Blue, George Gershwin was commissioned by conductor Walter Damrosch to compose a concerto. Damrosch was so impressed by the originality of Rhapsody in Blue, he asked Gershwin if he could write a “proper” concerto. The concerto was unlike anything Gershwin had attempted before, and urban legend has it that Gershwin did not know exactly what a concerto was. But he was determined he was determined to orchestrate the “New York Concerto” himself and quickly composed the work over a matter of months in the summer of 1925 in a version for two pianos (the version we hear in this concert). The work was a sophisticated fusion of popular and serious music, confirming Gershwin’s reputation as a composer writing across the boundary of these musical genres.

The Concerto in F received its premiere on 3 December 1925 at Carnegie Hall, New York, with the composer at the piano and Walter Damrosch conducting. It was a great success with the public, but the critics were not fully won over. Sergei Prokofiev found it “amateurish”, while Arnold Schoenberg paid a posthumous tribute to Gershwin “What he has done with rhythm, harmony and melody is not merely style. It is fundamentally different from the mannerism of many a serious composer [who writes] a superficial union of devices applied to a minimum of ideas. …”.

The work is now a staple of the piano repertoire and has been performed and recorded by, amongst others, Daniil Trifonov Sviatoslav Richter, Garrick Ohlsson, Hélène Grimaud, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Peter Jablonksi.

AUTUMN CONCERTS

This autumn sees us back at our favourite small venues – Ham House Stables, the 1901 Arts Club and Cafe Yukari – for a wonderful range of music and performers, from a husband-and-wife piano duo to a special performance of the full-length version of our “wonderful” Classic Gershwin, with ‘XXXtras’!

Praise for 7 Star Arts events:

“a truly uplifting evening- beautiful music”
“as good as Wigmore Hall!”
“such a friendly atmosphere…”
“Inspiring, inspired”

Visit the Events page for full details and to book tickets

We look forward to seeing you at our concerts this autumn!

Events

CELBRATION! VIV McLEAN & FRIENDS at Ham House Stables

Susan Porrett actress

Viv McLean piano

Susan Porrett actress

Tyler Hay piano

Programme includes music by Gershwin, Ravel, Prokofiev, Wagner/Liszt, piano 4-hands plus some surprises

Tickets £30 (includes welcome drink)
Doors open 7pm for 7.30pm start

In support of the ENO Benevolent Fund

Well-behaved dogs welcome – please contact sevenstarconcerts@hotmail.com if you would like to bring your canine concert companion

Post-concert meet the artists and mingle with other music lovers in the historic setting of Ham House Stables

 

‘GERSHWIN 1925’ Centenary Concert

Tyler Hay piano
Viv McLean piano

7 Star Arts invites you to an exclusive performance of George Gershwin’s Concerto in F on the centenary of its premiere in New York on 3 December 1925.

Performed in the two-piano version by acclaimed Gershwin interpreter Viv McLean and prize-winning young pianist Tyler Hay, the concert takes place in the elegant Bӧsendorfer Hall at Coach House Pianos’ sumptuous London showroom, located in the iconic art deco Talisman Building on New King’s Road.

In addition to the Concerto in F, the programme will include the Rhapsody in Blue together with shorter works by Gershwin

Tickets £35
Tickets must be booked in advance. No on the door ticket sales

Doors open 6pm for pre-concert drinks & mingling

 

CLASSIC GERSHWIN XXXTRA at The 1901 Arts Club

Experience a sensational evening of music, words and song celebrating the life of the great American composer George Gershwin at London’s most stylish small venue, the 1901 Arts Club.

7 Star Arts’ “wonderful” original full-length version of Classic Gershwin, starring:

Susan Porrett writer/narrator

Sofia Kirwan-Baez vocals

Alex Norton pianist

Viv McLean pianist

Written by Susan Porrett, CLASSIC GERSHWIN XXXTRA weaves the vibrant music of the ever-popular composer George Gershwin with his fascinating life story from birth in the colourful, teeming New York of 1898 to his tragically early death in 1937. The programme features popular Gershwin numbers including I Got Rhythm, The Man I Love and Rhapsody in Blue as well as lesser-known pieces, performed by a stellar cast. Plus post-concert Q&A and meet the artists in the bar afterwards

Tickets £40

Doors/bar open 6.30pm for 7.30pm start

BOOK TICKETS

 

Praise for 7 Star Arts events:

“a truly uplifting evening of beautiful music!”

“wonderful!”

“such a friendly atmosphere…”

“Inspiring, inspired”